Frock Flicks note: This is a guest post by our friend Loren Dearborn, who blogs at The Costumer’s Closet.Â
At the end of 2018, news broke that Another Period, Comedy Central’s show spoofing costume dramas like Downton Abbey and reality shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians, had been cancelled.
From the very first episode in 2015, I was hooked. The mix of reality TV and riffs on real history as we followed the antics of the rich and spoiled Bellacort family just slayed me. I’ve been too overcome with grief to make a post before now, but after a long stint on the fainting couch in the east morphine room I think I may finally be up to the task…
Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights of the show as we say goodbye to the Bellacorts.
Foremost in my mind is Lillian, the beautiful heiress determined to reach the pinnacle of Newport society
Such a lady!
She would do whatever was needed to to reach her goal.
Even when she went to prison she still managed to retain her dignity.
Then there was the lovable Mayor Cutie, Lillian’s constant companion, friend … and bitter rival. For a time they were so close they even dressed alike.
But in the end their rivalry was too great for the friendship to last.
Lillian’s sister Beatrice had a wit and grace that were truly remarkable to behold.
Such an amazing athlete.
So brave!
And so very beautiful!
Their brother Frederick was the ideal of Newport manhood.
His long years of campaigning…
Paid off when he became Vice President!
While in office he worked tirelessly for the good for the American people.
Then there was Hortense who could be relied upon to always do the sensible thing.
She was involved with the Women’s Temperance Society.
And waged a tireless campaign for women’s suffrage.
She was truly multifaceted.
Dodo, the matriarch of the house, always strove to teach her children how to behave properly.
Her patience with them was legendary.
And she always knew just what to say to comfort them.
And then there was the rakish, and often absent, head of the family, the Commodore.
Such a way with words!
The staff of Bellcourt Manor was also an inspiration. From Chair’s dedication to her job…
To Blanche’s quiet dignity while serving the family.
Hamish conveyed the feelings of the average servant with such eloquence.
Garfield was a particular favorite of mine, his boyish good nature won him friends everywhere.
Oh, but Peepers! Who could forget Peepers, the greatest butler of all!
The depth of his dedication to his mistress…
Was only eclipsed by his dedication to his craft.
But their lives were not without difficulty, no, there were many trials in store for the Bellacourts … such as sex troubles …
There was Chair’s affair with the Commodore.
Which lead to Dodo’s fight with Chair over the Commodore.
And Beatrice’s ongoing affair with her brother Frederick.
Causing Frederick to battle with his urges.
Even gentlemanly butler Peepers struggled.
There were money problems too. Such as their love of jewels…
Such a love of money…
And a love of rolling in money.
Alas, like many wealthy TV families, they had problems with addictions, such as…
Booze!
Morphine!
Romance powder!
And cocaine wine!
How well I know the struggle, for I too have struggled with addiction — my addiction to the Bellacourts! Oh, Another Period, how I will miss you!
Did you follow the Bellacourts’ foibles? Will you miss Another Period too?
I haven’t watched every episode, but one of my favorites is the one where they went to Harriet Tubman for advice on how to become famous and she started talking about marketing and brand, which led them to try to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
If true that sucks! Also what’s your source? I’m hoping its not true
For me, the two highlights were:
The Helen Keller episode featuring the real-life Deaf actress Shoshannah Stern, which miraculously managed to be funny without being offensive
The song “I’ll F**k You in Heaven,” the perfect mockery of forbidden love (and I adore forbidden love stories): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOsvfl-PGqk
So sad. I loved the show, especially since I LOATHED Downtown Abbey. A comic TV representation of critic Mary Collum’s witticism to Hemingway — “The only difference between the rich and other people is that the rich have more money.” Which Hemingway stole and added Fitzgerald for verisimilitude. For more on how a woman once more lost credit for a killer bon mot, cf: https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/13/books/l-the-rich-are-different-907188.html